Israeli Diaspora Minister Criticizes Australian Government's Response to Bondi Beach Attack
Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli has stated that Australia should have anticipated the Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack, citing rising antisemitism and various warning signs in the country. He referenced August demonstrations on Sydney Harbour Bridge where antisemitic slogans such as "Globalize the intifada" and pro-Hamas/ISIS imagery were displayed, contributing to a hostile climate.
Chikli accused the Australian leadership of failing to condemn incitement, highlighting a lack of action and condemnation from the government. The Bondi Beach attack, which occurred in mid-December 2025, resulted in the deaths of 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl and a Holocaust survivor, with dozens more wounded.
In response, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the government would tighten gun laws. However, Chikli argued that focusing on gun control diverts attention from the root issue of radical Islam, a term he said Australian leaders have avoided using. Albanese confirmed that the suspects were motivated by Islamic State ideology and that ISIS flags were found on their vehicle during the attack.
Dionne Taylor of the Australia/Israel Jewish Affairs Council noted that warnings from Jewish leaders and a detailed envoy report on antisemitism were acknowledged by the government but not implemented. Chikli, who has visited Australia and attended victims' funerals, contrasted the Australian approach with the U.S. response, criticizing the Biden administration while praising the Trump administration for pressuring universities to address antisemitism.
